Backyard Critters and Projects
Chipmunks, like other animals, can be carriers of pests and diseases. Some of these are common, such as lice and mites. Other may be more dangerous. But before we get to that, let’s take a look at the matter at hand: Do chipmunks carry rabies? Are there any other diseases carried by chipmunks?
Let’s find out!
The chipmunk is among the few rodents in the world whose presence is largely limited to North America (Except for the Siberian chipmunk). Of course, this does not make them any less diverse amongst their other rodent friends. As I have mentioned in my earlier articles, you’ll find 25 different species of chipmunks in North America.
These members of the chipmunk family can be distinguished from each other in several ways. One of these is their breeding cycles, which is precisely the reason for this article!.
One of the questions people often ask about these animals is, “When do chipmunks have babies?” I will give you the best response that I can but there is no one single answer to this question. The breeding cycle of chipmunks varies according to the type of species you are dealing with. Some chipmunks will only have one breeding cycle a year, while others will have two. And, regardless of whether the species has one or two breeding seasons per year, there is still tremendous variability between them based on numerous environmental conditions.
There are 25 species of chipmunks in the world and they are the smallest members of the squirrel family. Their small size, bushy tails, and plump cheeks are the reason some people love these creatures. But while the chipmunk scores high on the cuteness scale, there’s a lot more to these animals that people don’t know about.
In this article, I’ll be discussing where chipmunks live and the habitat of a chipmunk. To be more specific, I will also be talking about how they live and the burrow system of a chipmunk.
If you haven’t noticed it before, chipmunks tend to disappear as the temperatures drop when we enter into the cold months. They then resurface during March or April when it is spring again. If a particular animal disappears for the winter then you might think that it is hibernating. But what about these guys…Do chipmunks hibernate?
Chipmunks are not true hibernators but they do enter states of torpor. Chipmunks retreat to their burrows and enter a hibernation type state but wake up every few days to eat and defecate. So, instead of hibernating, you can term chipmunks as ‘light sleepers’.
Of course, this brings up another question: How do chipmunks survive in winter? Surprisingly enough, chipmunks will use a variety of survival tactics to make it through the cold months. Let’s take a look at what these are and how they help chipmunks survive in the winter.
Did you know that there are over 25 species of Chipmunks in North America? These cute little rodents are fairly widespread, and their diet is equally diverse. From the Eastern Chipmunk to the Hopi Chipmunk, these rodents will devour a variety of vegetative and animal matter. So, if you’re thinking of Alvin and the chipmunks and how their diet was fairly restricted to acorns, you’re in for a surprise.
So you want to know, “What do chipmunks eat?”
Well then, here is a brief overview of the different Types of Chipmunks in North America and their diets. (All material was sourced from their respective profiles on Animal Diversity Web.)
Have you ever been confused between a chipmunk and a squirrel? I know I have. This is especially in the case of certain types of ground squirrels that have a stripes that are similar to chipmunks. However, there are some notable differences between ground squirrels and chipmunks. Let’s take a look at what these are:
